Content and Copyright

If you believe any materials on the Site infringe your copyright, you should notify Ruboss by submitting a copyright infringement claim. At its discretion, Ruboss will take appropriate action in accordance with our Copyright Take Down Policy, which governs how we respond to claims of copyright infringement.

The Copyright Take Down Policy can be found here. By accepting these Terms, you also accept the terms of the Copyright Take Down Policy.

To report an infringement, please follow the steps outlined in our Copyright Take Down Policy.

Leanpub offers various types of User-generated Content for sale, including but not limited to:

• Books: Digital books (ebooks) provided in formats such as PDF, EPUB, and HTML. Content may include, but is not limited to, text, images, video, music, code samples, figures, and tables.

• Bundles: Collections of two or more Books, created by one or more Account Holders, sold as a single item.

• Courses: Content offered through Leanpub’s Courses service, which may include interactive elements like multiple-choice questions, assessments, and certificates of completion issued by the Course Author or other relevant User.

• Tracks: Curated sets of one or more Courses. Users may receive certificates upon completion, with success criteria determined by the Track Author or other relevant User.

• Extras: Supplementary digital files offered alongside a principal Product (currently only a Book, though this may include a Course in the future) as part of a Package. Extras may include videos, digital artwork, source files, code samples, apps, templates, worksheets, or similar content. They may not include services or software licenses. Ruboss may, at its discretion and in accordance with these Terms, remove any Extra or its associated principal Product from sale if deemed to violate these Terms.

• Packages: A combination of a principal Product (such as a Book or Course) and/or one or more Extras, and/or a specified number of copies of the Product, sold together as a single purchase. A Package can include additional digital resources (Extras), multiple copies at a discounted rate (e.g., a “Team Edition” for 5 copies), or both.

All Content, whether publicly posted (in Forums, Books, Bundles, Extras, Packages, or Courses sold on Leanpub) or privately transmitted between Users, is the sole responsibility of the person who created or uploaded such Content.

Leanpub does not monitor or control Content posted via the Services and takes no responsibility for any such Content. Any use or reliance on Content obtained through the Services is at the User’s own risk.

Leanpub does not endorse or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of any Content or Product shared via the Services, nor does it support any opinions expressed through the Services.

By using the Services, you understand that you may encounter Content that could be offensive, harmful, inaccurate, or otherwise inappropriate. In some cases, postings may be deceptive or mislabeled.

Ruboss is not liable for any Content-related issues, including but not limited to errors, omissions, or any loss or damage resulting from Content posted, emailed, or otherwise made available via the Services.

By uploading Content to Leanpub, you represent and warrant that:

• You own the Content or have permission from the rightful owner to upload it.
• The Content does not violate any copyright, trademark, trade secret, or other intellectual property rights.
• The Content does not infringe on privacy or publicity rights.
• The Content does not contain false attributions, misleading testimonials, or unauthorized endorsements.
• The Content is not unlawful, obscene, defamatory, pornographic, hate speech, harassing, or harmful.
• The Content is free from malicious code, including viruses or other harmful software.
• The Content complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
• The Content does not promote fraudulent goods, services, or schemes.
• To the best of your knowledge, all factual information in the Content is accurate, and its use will not cause harm.

You are entirely responsible for your Content. Ruboss is not responsible for backing up or archiving Content, and we will not be held liable for any damage, loss, or corruption of Content. Leanpub’s “Versions” feature is not intended as a backup tool, and Ruboss reserves the right to discontinue this or any other feature at any time.

As a User, you agree:

• Not to post any Content that violates these Terms.
• Not to use the Services to harm anyone, including but not limited to Minors, in any way.
• Not to use “spam,” “blast-faxes,” or automated calls to market or sell Content or any other product or service.
• Not to interfere with the operation of the Site through the use of viruses, malicious software, or other disruptive technology.
• Not to employ a robot, spider, or other automated process to harvest email addresses or user information or to monitor activity on the Site.
• Not to impersonate another person or entity or forge any communication or message.
• Not to use Leanpub to sell physical goods, including offering codes or coupons redeemable for physical goods. Leanpub is for digital goods only.

As an Author or Organization, you agree that any Content made available for sale on the Site will comply with these Terms. In addition to complying with these Terms, you are responsible for adhering to all local and national laws in your jurisdiction.

Ruboss may, at its discretion, refuse or remove any Content it deems inappropriate, illegal, offensive, or harmful, or that misrepresents the Content’s nature or progress. We may also remove Content or Products and reassign URLs if we determine a project has been abandoned. For example, if you reserve a valuable URL like leanpub.com/computers but fail to publish, we may reclaim it.

At our discretion, we may ban Users or remove Content that violates our policies or that we deem suspicious. Ruboss reserves the right to modify policies at any time without notice.

Leanpub is committed to ensuring that Content published through the platform aligns with its mission. To maintain this focus, we have established strict policies that govern the use of Content on Leanpub.

VIOLATING ANY OF THE POLICIES IN THIS SECTION MAY RESULT IN ACCOUNT SUSPENSION OR DELETION (INCLUDING ALL ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS), AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

Only the holder of the copyright for any Content may use Leanpub to publish that Content.

This policy applies not only to the contents of a Product but to any other Content, such as a User’s profile or a Product’s “About” information.

Leanpub Authors or Organizations retain the copyright to their work. Leanpub does not claim ownership of the copyright for Products or any other Content created or sold on Leanpub. By default, Leanpub Books are published under a standard copyright license belonging to the Author(s) or Organization(s).

Leanpub allows Authors and Organizations to choose a Creative Commons License for their work as an alternative to the default copyright license.

However, you may only publish under a Creative Commons License if you own the copyright for the Content. Publishing Creative Commons works that you do not own, even if the license permits distribution elsewhere, is not allowed.

This policy supports the Creative Commons process by ensuring that the original work remains identifiable, especially for in-progress Products. A flood of similar or identical copies of Creative Commons works could harm the ability of the original Author(s) to profit from their work and receive valuable feedback.

Leanpub allows the sale of Public Domain works only if they are significantly differentiated from the original or other versions. To be considered significantly differentiated, a Product must include unique contributions such as a new translation, original illustrations, or annotations.

Annotations must be the original work of the User or Users publishing the Product and can include essay introductions, study guides, or literary critiques.

Leanpub reserves the right to reject any Public Domain Product it does not deem sufficiently differentiated. Public Domain Products must also include a clear indication of their nature in the Product title (e.g., “Translated,” “Annotated,” “Illustrated”).

If Ruboss determines that any part of a Product infringes on the copyright of others, it may take immediate action, including halting the sale of the Product or deleting the offending Book or Package. Ruboss may also suspend or delete the account responsible for the infringement if warranted.

Ruboss reserves the right to withhold revenue or refund all refundable purchases if it determines that a violation of these Terms has occurred. This action is taken at Ruboss’s sole discretion.

By using Leanpub, Account Holders authorize Ruboss to act as one of their DMCA copyright representatives. Ruboss is permitted, but not obligated, to send DMCA Takedown notices on behalf of Account Holders while their Product is available for sale in the Leanpub Bookstore. Ruboss reserves the right to send DMCA Takedown notices at its discretion, particularly in cases involving significant copyright violations.

Leanpub permits the use of images sourced from Unsplash’s free image collection, provided that the use complies with Unsplash’s free image license. This license allows for both commercial and non-commercial use without the need for attribution (though attribution is appreciated).

Unsplash+ images, or images from similar paid licensing services such as iStock, are not permitted on Leanpub. This restriction helps avoid any potential licensing issues that could arise from specific usage limitations imposed by paid services like Unsplash+. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all images used in their Products fully comply with the free usage license offered by Unsplash or other similar services.

This policy removes the need for verifying the existence or terms of paid licenses, ensuring compliance with Leanpub’s content guidelines.

To clarify:

• Unsplash Free images: Allowed, provided they adhere to the free image license terms.
• Unsplash+ images and similar paid services such as iStock: Not permitted.

If the copyright owner of Content published on Leanpub dies, ownership of the Content passes to their legal successor. The new copyright holder assumes all rights of the Primary Author, including the ability to keep the Content for sale, retire it, or take any other action permitted to a Primary Author. Leanpub will not lock the Account or unpublish any Products upon the death of a copyright owner.

Ruboss does not mediate copyright disputes. Such matters are for the involved parties to resolve themselves or in court. If Ruboss becomes aware that any Content is involved in a dispute over copyright or intellectual property rights (“Disputed Content”), we may take action to limit our exposure to the dispute.

For example, Ruboss may change the Product’s status to “Forcibly Retired” or restrict access to Leanpub for Users associated with the Disputed Content. In some cases, we may delete the Content or the Users’ Accounts entirely. Ruboss may also withhold royalties associated with Disputed Content and refund any refundable purchases of the Content. At our discretion, we may also remove the Disputed Content from Users’ Leanpub libraries.

Ruboss’s actions regarding Disputed Content are not judgments or declarations about the ownership of the Content or any User’s involvement in infringing activity. Instead, they are precautionary measures to limit Ruboss’s exposure to legal risk in cases where the ownership of Content is unclear.

If a Product URL becomes associated with Disputed Content, it may no longer be available for use on Leanpub, even for unrelated new content or by other Users.

Leanpub has specific rules and features that apply to Content categorized as Erotica, with additional restrictions to ensure compliance with legal standards and to prevent access by Minors.

Products containing mature or erotic material must be categorized as Erotica. These Books will appear in their own Category lists and will not be included in the main Leanpub bestseller lists or first published lists. The Erotica Category is protected by an age verification process to prevent access by Minors.

Packages containing Erotica are not permitted. Authors are prohibited from adding Extras to Books categorized under the Erotica genre. This includes, but is not limited to, restrictions on video, audio, artwork, or other digital Extras. If any Extra in a Package is deemed inappropriate or falls under the Erotica genre, the entire Package may be removed at Ruboss’ sole discretion. Violations could lead to further actions, including suspension of the Author’s Account.

If a Bundle includes a Product categorized as Erotica, the entire Bundle will be categorized as Erotica. Non-Erotica books included in such a Bundle will only be subject to restrictions and age verification when part of the Bundle. These restrictions do not affect the non-Erotica Book when sold independently. Erotica Bundles will only appear in the Erotica category and will be subject to age verification.

Books categorized as Erotica are not allowed to contain any images within their manuscripts. Leanpub’s book generator will automatically ignore image tags in Erotica manuscripts. This ensures that no inappropriate or copyrighted images are included. The only image allowed in an Erotica book is the cover image (“Book Cover”). The Book Cover must be appropriate for a PG-13 audience and cannot be erotic or mature in nature.

To prevent the inclusion of images in directly uploaded books, all Erotica books must be generated through the Leanpub book generator.

Ruboss reserves the right to remove any Content that violates these terms and may take additional actions as necessary.

Leanpub supports free speech and artistic expression but strictly prohibits certain types of content. Pornographic images or videos, graphic depictions of sexual acts, or any erotic content involving minors are strictly forbidden. Leanpub is firmly against child pornography and prohibits any Content featuring minors in an erotic context.

Other prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, crime scene imagery, depictions of animal cruelty, or similarly disturbing content. These materials cannot be uploaded, sold, or distributed via the Leanpub platform.

Ruboss reserves the right to remove any inappropriate Content and take further action against the Authors or Organizations responsible for violations. While global standards of acceptability may differ, Ruboss retains the sole discretion to determine what Content is appropriate for sale on the Leanpub platform.

Content categorized as Erotica is ineligible for AI Services.

Fan Fiction refers to fiction that uses characters, settings, or other recognizable content from an existing work, such as a TV show, movie, book, or other media, created by someone other than the Author of the Fan Fiction.

Fan Fiction is not permitted on Leanpub.

This prohibition is due to the complex legal issues surrounding copyright and derivative works. Fan Fiction often constitutes a derivative work, which may infringe on the original copyright holder’s rights. As a result, Leanpub does not allow the sale or distribution of Fan Fiction to avoid potential copyright violations, even if no payment is involved.

Leanpub encourages creative expression but must maintain standards to protect its platform and its Users. Occasionally, a User may publish a Product with minimal original content or use the platform in a way that could harm Leanpub’s reputation or its Users. These are referred to as “Bad Products.”

If Ruboss determines that a Product qualifies as a Bad Product, it reserves the right to take any necessary actions to resolve the situation. These actions may include deleting the Product, changing its status (e.g., from Published to Unpublished or Suspended), or taking other corrective actions without prior notice to the User.

In addition to addressing the Product, Ruboss may take action against any User deemed responsible for creating or distributing a Bad Product. This may include suspending or closing the User’s account, depending on the severity of the violation.

Examples of Bad Products may include, but are not limited to:

• Products with little or no original content
• Products created to mislead or deceive Users
• Products intended to damage Leanpub’s platform or other Users’ experiences
• Products that appear to be low-effort AI-created Content with little to no human curation, or “AI slop”

Leanpub recognizes that some Users may create Products or User pages intended as jokes or pranks (referred to as “Joke Products”). While humor and creativity are welcomed, Leanpub retains the right to prevent Joke Products from negatively impacting the platform or its Users.

If Ruboss determines that a Product is a Joke Product or a related action is a joke, it may take action to mitigate any negative effects. This can include unpublishing or retiring the Product, restricting its sale to free-only, or taking other actions as deemed necessary.

Leanpub reserves the right to address Joke Products without notifying the User in advance. The platform will prioritize maintaining the integrity and user experience on Leanpub over the continuation of any Joke Products.

Leanpub is a platform dedicated to the creation, publication, and promotion of Leanpub Products and Authors. It is also a marketplace for discovering Leanpub Authors and purchasing their Products.

It is prohibited to use Leanpub for any unrelated primary purpose, including but not limited to, conducting search engine optimization (SEO) or promoting non-Leanpub products or services (collectively referred to as “Banned Promotional Activity”).

If Ruboss determines, at its sole discretion, that a User is engaged in Banned Promotional Activity, we reserve the right to suspend the User’s account without prior notification.

Leanpub welcomes Products that discuss computer security as a general topic. However, Leanpub cannot be used as a platform for disclosing specific security vulnerabilities, performing website audits, or teaching malware development.

Disclosures of security vulnerabilities should be made privately to the relevant parties, rather than publicly on Leanpub.

This restriction applies to all Content, including a User’s profile or a Product’s “About” information, and is in effect regardless of the Product’s state (e.g., unpublished, stealth mode, or published).

Any activity deemed by Ruboss, at its sole discretion, to violate this policy may result in the removal of the Product and potential suspension of the User’s account, without prior notice.

If you are unsure whether your Content complies with these Terms, please contact us at hello@leanpub.com for guidance before publishing.

Ruboss owns all intellectual property rights associated with Leanpub, including but not limited to copyrights, patents, and trademarks, as well as the design, format, and layout of the Site. This excludes Content owned by third parties. Users of the Site are authorized to use the Site and copy materials posted on the Site for personal, non-commercial use, provided that all copyright notices remain intact. Any other uses are prohibited. Ruboss retains all rights, title, and ownership to the materials posted on the Site.

The Leanpub logo and the names of Leanpub products and services are trademarks of Ruboss. Users are prohibited from using the Leanpub logo on any Product, such as on the cover or landing page image, to avoid any implication of endorsement.

When you post Content on Leanpub, you retain your rights to that Content, but you grant Ruboss specific rights depending on the type of Content.

For Content that is available for sale or distribution on Leanpub, you grant Ruboss a fully transferable, fully sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to copy, reproduce, print, publish, and distribute the Content solely in connection with the Services, as long as the Product is available on Leanpub. If desired, Organizations or Users may negotiate an addendum to make the license non-sublicensable.

For other types of Content, such as comments on Forums, you grant Ruboss a fully transferable, fully sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to use that Content to operate, promote, and improve the Services.

If you wish to negotiate an agreement that restricts sublicensing rights, you can contact Ruboss to discuss and enter into a special addendum for a non-sublicensable arrangement.

When you post on the Forums or use the “Email the Author(s)” form, the following Permissions Agreement applies:

1. Licensed Materials: This applies to text, source code, or other materials posted in the Forum or via email.
2. License: You grant the recipient an irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use the materials in their work, including derivative works, in all media, worldwide, and in perpetuity.
3. Use of Materials: The recipient may edit and use the materials as they see fit, with or without attribution.
4. Compensation: No compensation is provided for the use of the materials.
5. Warranties: You warrant that you own the rights to the materials and indemnify the recipient from any claims related to the materials.

Any User engaging in abusive speech or actions through Leanpub, or contacting Leanpub Users or Ruboss staff abusively, may have their account suspended or blocked.

If Ruboss determines that a User has engaged in abusive speech, we may suspend or terminate the User’s account. We may also take additional measures, such as blocking the User’s email from contacting Leanpub or its Authors.

This policy applies to interactions outside the Site as well. If we discover abusive speech directed at Leanpub staff or Users on external platforms, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate the User’s Leanpub account.

Ruboss has sole discretion in determining what constitutes abusive speech. Examples include racist remarks or threats of violence. We may enforce this policy without any warning or communication.

Leanpub Products and public repositories must not be used to make defamatory statements or personal attacks. This is particularly true if Personally Identifying Information is included, allowing someone to be identified.

If Ruboss determines that these Terms have been violated, we may delete the offending book or repository, and potentially terminate any associated accounts.

Leanpub is not to be used as a platform for interpersonal disputes, and any misuse of the platform in this way will not be tolerated.